Big events for June

Future leaders of the herd celebrate the family farm

Future leaders of the herd celebrate the family farm

Margaret Backenheimer, Special to Tribune Newspapers

At long last, summer is about to arrive — at least in name — and with it a bumper crop of outdoor festivities, from a pirate fest in Virginia to a watermelon-seed-spitting soiree in Texas. For more fun in the sun there's Coney Island's wacky Mermaid Parade, where you can dress up as a lighthouse or a creature from the deep.

June 3-5: Strolling of the Heifers, Brattleboro, Vt.; 802-254-5546; strollingoftheheifers.com. Future leaders of the herd celebrate the family farm.